Some people believe that bullying is just a fact of
life that kids have to deal with. The problem is that
these situations are often quite severe and could even
lead to death and suicide in some cases. Even if the
situation doesn’t get to that point, it can still have
an emotional toll on your child. Here are some ways to
tell if your child is being bullied and what to do if
they are.
The first step to dealing with your child being bullied
is to know it’s happening. Most children aren’t going to
open up and tell you what’s going on; you have to be
perceptive. The first sign is inventing ways to get out
of school or certain situations. Bullied teens may also
have trouble sleeping and concentrating. They can become
depressed, irritable, or even physically ill. The best
method is to know your child’s regular routine and look
for any changes.
If possible, they should avoid dealing with a bully
altogether. If a bully is in a particular hallway, take
a different route to class. This shouldn’t be taken too
far though; your child shouldn’t have to drastically
alter their lives to avoid being attacked. But most
bullies feed on reaction; if confronted the best action
is to just walk away.
If they can’t avoid the bully, your teen should know how
to deal with being around the bullies. Tell them to
stand strong and talk forcefully; convince the bully
that they can’t be pushed around. Never tell your child
to resort to physical violence. This often just
escalates the problem.
Schools are responsible for keeping children safe; that
includes protecting them from each other. While some
schools at times don’t seem so concerned if a teen is
being teased or harassed, they should take action if
your child is being physically or sexually attacked or
threatened. Be sure to inform them of any incidences
that may occur and follow up to see that action is being
taken. If you’ve contacted the school repeatedly, go to
the PTA or the school board. Find some way to make them
listen and make changes.
The most important step to take when your child is being
bullied is to restore their self confidence. Let them
know that there’s nothing wrong with them, no matter
what other people say. Feeling loved and accepted is the
first step to recovery.
